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Working Abroad

I would like to share my personal experience in China as an ESL female teacher. China hasn't been that great for me, first as a "non-native" foreigner and as a woman. Maybe, that is only me, so, I am not really trying to offend anybody with my story but again, this has been my experience. Please take a note, so you don’t have to live what I had lived through.

By pure luck, I ended up working for one of the worst agencies in China. I believed their lies and came here virtually broke which is never a good thing when you venture in a country so far away from home. Without knowing the laws and the few rights we have as foreigners, I ended up working for what it seemed centuries for these people. I tried to get out and find "loopholes" in the system, but I didn't find any help. The few Chinese who wanted to help me, didn't know how, the rest of the Chinese didn't care because evidently it wasn't it their benefit to do so, and the foreigners I knew, just didn't help me in any way. Later, I found out that they actually knew what sort of an agency it was but they were not interested in giving any sort of warning. Others knew how to "get out" but wouldn't share these "loopholes" because they were too busy to help others. Everything was a "secret."

I regretted so many times going to China and working for these people. However, now I can tell you that unintentionally, they had given me a doctoral degree on how to survive China. So, I am happy to help other foreigners in China in any way I can.

Here it is a long review of the agency I used to work in Changchun. Sorry if that is too long, but this is how they work this agency and other ones in China. At the end, you will see a YouTube link from the owner from this agency. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, share this video to help me warn others.

NOTE: The owner posted a promotional video in Youtube a week ago, and it had such a backlash from all the teachers who used to work for them that she disabled the comments, still the video went viral in Facebook among teachers warning others about her agency. In less than a week, she had to removed her video and closed her Youtube account. If that agency were as reputable as they claim, they wouldn’t have a problem putting themselves out there to be reviewed.

1. This agency has so many pseudonyms that is actually hard to keep up with them. Just remember, Mamma Wang is the owner, Maggie is the daughter, Kara and Chloe are their main minions who recruit teachers, and Jali, aka Lailah is the one in charge of housing and jobs. The other recruiters don’t really count, they just work there for a while, then they move on or get fired. Every 8 months or so, there is a new staff, except the untouchables who were mentioned before.

2. There is no welcoming to begin with. They will rush you into the office (Jilin Younovo Education/Tian Shuo Education, Room 398, Floor 3, 3766 Yatai Grand Street, Changchun, China 130041) to sign a contract, take your passport, and take you to your next destination.

3. Do not be deceived by their fake smiles and sweet voice. Whenever they see you, you are just money and western slaves they can boss around and abuse.

4. The second thing they will require you to do is to hand in your passport and school documents. They will keep your original documents and delay returning of your passport. They will keep your FEC (red booklet), though it belongs to you, you will never see it. There have been cases where they had kept the passports from certain teachers. Their reason is to keep it “safe.” The real reason, they will need your passport to cancel your residency permit. WITHOUT your passport, your residency permit cannot be canceled.

5. They will give the worst accommodation you have ever seen in your entire life, even if you come from a 3rd. world country which it was my case, I had never seen apartments in such pitiful conditions.

6. They will deduct 2,000RMB for that luxurious accommodation which you will have to share with everyone who works for this agency. NOTE: depending on your nationality, you will have to share your own bed, YES, your bed with another teacher, regardless of your sex).

7. Under no circumstances, they will give you any sort of cleaning products, even though, their apartments are filled with dirt, grease, and roaches.

8. During the first week after your arrival, someone from the agency will take you to open a bank account but they will keep the contract and that person will give his/her phone number. They will be able to get notifications about your transactions unless you change the phone number. Conveniently they neglect to mention this information.

9. In the contract, it is mentioned that you will have to teach certain number of HOURS to reach the amount of money it was promised. HOWEVER, what they avoid to mention is that they will LITERALLY COUNT the minutes you had taught. For example, if you taught 22 classes of 40 minutes each, in one week, you will only get 14.6 hours of pay. And they will pay one week of payment for the first week. Even if you change schools, the drill will be the same. So, expect to be deducted for that week.

10. Maggie (the owner’s daughter) has a policy that new teachers have to work in Changchun for the first 6 months of their contracts. So basically, it would be impossible to reach your full payment unless you work 7 days a week, teaching in several schools all over Changchun. The other option is to teach in a kindergarten.

11. If you decide to leave Changchun because who wouldn’t like to experience a -40°C winter, you just have to remember that your original contract will be voided because the “school” wants a full year contract. Therefore, your contract will be extended for one more year to that date. If for any reason, you get fired or move to another city, then another contract must be signed, extending it for another year to that date. You could easily end up working for at least 3 years. But lately newbies have to sign initially 2-year contracts, they will tell you that is a Chinese requirement (another lie.)

12. Regarding salaries: The agency fee for finding you a job, will be 60% of your salary. YES, 60% or 70% of your SALARY (depending on your nationality) as the owners of this company think teachers DO NOTHING. There is no way around it. This is how they work.

13. Your salary will be paid every 15 of each month. If the 15 falls under a national holiday, expect to be paid 2 weeks later. Why 2 weeks? No one knows. If the 15 falls on a weekend, your salary will be paid the following working day. And under no circumstance, your salary will be given in advance.

14. If you happen to be a “non-native” teacher, expect your salary to be cut in half of what other teachers make. They will constantly tell you that your dark skin is a problem and how schools don’t want you because of your complexion, your nationality, your accent, and so on. They will find plenty of reasons why you are not good enough, so please thank them for their generosity as they are the ones doing you a favor by hiring you. By the way, you will never see a black person working for Mamma Wang and Maggie. If you are black, don’t even bother applying for a job with this agency.

15. 90% of the schools pay at least winter vacation but obviously you will never get one RMB from this money, unless, you have the best relationship with the school managers. Then they usually demand the agency to pay the teachers for the winter vacation.

16. The agency claims that it is ILLEGAL to give insurance to teachers. This is a lie.

17. You will be FORCED (YES, you read it correctly) to sign a letter giving up your right to get a release and a recommendation letter, even if you finish your contract. Obviously, the release and the recommendation letter can be given to you if you pay around 10,000 RMB or up to 50,000 RMB (again, it depends on your nationality.)

18. If you are a woman, expect to be treated different. Do not expect equal rights and if you ever raise your voice, the main owner (Mamma Wang) might kick you or hit you and put you in your place. You have to understand that you are not or will not ever be their equal.

19. If you find yourself in any sort of distress, do not count on anybody at the office to help you out. You are on your own. If you don’t find the school they appointed you, that is your problem. If you are sick, suck it up, you will have to teach or expect your salary to be deducted.

20. For the first week, you will have to figure out by yourself the transport system, how to buy food and water, how to find the nearest supermarket, etc., you name it. Whatever you need to transition into this new culture, don’t expect them to help you.

21. Teachers are expected to pay for all housing bills. Maggie and family own all the apartments in Changchun given by this agency. Though, from time to time, they move teachers from one apartment to the other to either upgrade you or downgrade you depending on your behavior. That means if you are fighting back, demanding to get your own money, a better accommodation, etc., you will be place in the worst apartment which believe me, they have from bad to worst. Their version is that the owner is “selling” the apartment.

22. You will also HAVE TO PAY for your own visa fees, courier services, photos, medical tests, EVERYTHING. This agency doesn’t pay for ANYTHING.

23. Please note that they are some very LOYAL employees from this agency as they get money to recruit teachers or they could also get their own release letters if they bring someone they know to work for this agency. NICE, uhh?

24. Most of these foreigners working for these people WILL NOT tell you the truth about this agency. Other foreign teachers will tell you not to mess around with the owners. The reason is that they are pretty well connected to the local authorities (PSB and SAFEA.) At one point, during my forever contract, I reached for help to both government offices and their officials called Maggie to tell her I was there trying to get out.

25. They send teachers to work all over China, though it is required by Chinese law to transfer the documents to the new school, so the teacher will work there legally. Well, don’t count on it, they will never do that as that would mean losing the control over the teacher.

26. The company creates a sense of paranoia where you feel you cannot trust anybody, either for real reasons or not, working for this agency, you will not find any peace of mind.

27. The owners constantly threaten people to blacklist them, deport them, or put them in jail if they do not BEHAVE or COMPLY to their demands.

28. Maggie and her mother want you to be completely dependent to the agency. They will prevent you to know anything that will actually be useful to your life in China. They will not share any extra information, you don’t need to know.

29. If you finish your contract successfully, they will find ANY NUMBER OF REASONS to be deducted from your housing deposit (2,000 RMB.) I wouldn’t count on it. In my case, they kept 4,000 RMB.

30. Both Mamma Wang and her daughter, Maggie, seemed to be very well connected with the local authorities; and going to them will be pretty useless as they won’t help you, but they will call Maggie to inform them about your situation. So, if at one point of your contract, you want to leave, it will be virtually impossible to get another job without their “release letter.” Many teachers in the past had just gone back to their home countries.

31. Reading and knowing all of these, if you still want to go ahead and sign with these people, mark my word: YOU WILL REGRET IT!!!

32. If you still decide to go ahead, just don’t choose the 21st. Century building as your accommodation in Changchun. They have two of the worst apartments in that building, don’t be fooled by the outside appearance. The bills are ridiculously high and both apartments look dreadful. To be honest, every apartment in Changchun is shocking.

Wow! How fortunate I am to have had the experience to teach the inspiring students at the Kunpan cultural school in Dharamsala, India! Never have I been so impressed with a group of people of any age: determination, cooperation, compassion, and love of daily life. This experience exceeded my expectations in every way.
Working with Vicky at Working Abroad was uplifting and efficient. With my schedule, I wasn't able to commit to a volunteer project 1 year in advance, so I asked Vicky to let me know if any spaces opened up at this specific school within the next 2-3 months. She replied immediately to notify me of a recent cancellation 8 weeks in the future. Although that project didn't work out, she kept in touch with me until an opening became available a few short months later and before I knew it, I was headed to India for one of the most amazing and fulfilling experiences of my life.
When I arrived bleary-eyed and jet-lagged the kind group welcomed me with an unobtrusive collective "hello". I ate a quick breakfast and slept my fogginess away. When I woke for lunch, a couple of the students chatted with me pleasantly and I pondered, "How will my feelings for these students grow? There are so many to get to know in 2 short months. How will I possibly learn all of their names?" The answers came quite quickly. My fondness for these young adults blossomed into utter admiration after having the honor of reading some of their harrowing stories of their journeys to India. I was touched by their passion for learning English and their ability to remain positive and filled with laughter while simultaneously missing and worrying about their families back home. I quickly discovered a loving admiration for each one of them. As for their names that took about a week.
I will not lie, it takes some time to get used to showering and washing your clothes in a spring, eating 3 meals a day as a group, and sharing one western toilet with all of the volunteers. However, I was surprised at how quickly I came to appreciate these aspects. I learned to slow down, to appreciate what I have, and to recognize what I really don't need.
With the help of these students, I have learned a lot as a teacher, but mostly, as a compassionate human being. Whenever I wanted, these students would talk with me about Buddhism. They each live their lives with such compassion and patience, it is absolutely heartwarming. Through their example, I quit killing mosquitoes (and in turn, I think they stopped biting me), and ushered out of my room safely a whole host of small harmless "visitors". I became more patient and quickly understood that very rarely do things go as planned, but that is the beauty of just letting go and letting life happen. These students are masters of this mentality and I know it is a lesson that the Western world needs to learn. I feel so blessed have learned it from such kind and gentle teachers.
The life there was not always easy, but the challenges bring you closer to your co-workers and students. Plus, you will rediscover a sense of humor about life's little mishaps that many of us lost after childhood. From the deepest part of my being, I thank these students, Choephel, the
administrative team, the Board of E.S. Tibet, and Working Abroad for this experience. It is one I will never forget and will always cherish. I wish these students so much luck, success, and happiness. They deserve it and Buddha knows, they have certainly earned it. Tashi delek!

One tip: bring all contact numbers they provide you with for airport pickup. Don't be afraid to ask someone local at the airport to borrow their mobile to contact your ride.

I had a wonderful experience with Working Abroad during my two weeks with the Leatherback Sea Turtle project in Ostional. Costa Rica.

Vicky was a great help during the application process and the material provided for the project was very detailed and accurate.

Once on-site in Ostional they got us straight to work building a big Leatherback turtle made of sand and teaching us all about sea turtles and the role we'd play during our patrol and hatchery shifts. There was never a dull moment.

Ostional is a lovely little coastal town, the locals are all very friendly, my homestay was great and the beach is beautiful. It was a little slice of paradise (even though we were exhausted for all of the hard work we did!!)

A truly incredible experience and a project I'd love to participate in again next year. I've already passed on the information to several friends!!

Thank you Working Abroad for this amazing opportunity! I certainly plan on working with you again :)

For my daughter's 18th birthday I promised to take her anywhere or do anything she wanted... when the answer was I want to do volunteer work in Nepal it literally brought tears to my eyes. I got in touch my long time high-school friends at Working Abroad (Vicky and Andreas Kornevall). I was impressed with the projects that Working Abroad were working on and my daughter and I opted to work at the Daycare Center in the Chitwan region in conjunction with Experience Himalayan Nepal.

After a long journey to Nepal and a few days in Kathmandu we took a bus to Chitwan where we were greeted by our homestay family. They immediately made us feel at home and looked after us like family. We spent a week at the Daycare Center and working with the kids and staff was a delight. From playing with them to teaching them the alphabet, washing their faces to fixing lunches... it was all just an amazing experience.

Dilu and Binu (our homestay Dad and Mom) made our stay in Chitwan an excellent experience. We even had time for a few elephant safaris and jungle walks. To top it off... they organized the biggest and best 18th birthday party anyone could have ever imagined, with several people from the village over dancing and sharing local tradition with Lauren. I was speechless.

I was moved by the poverty. I was moved by the beauty. I was moved by how happy and friendly people can be when they have so little. Kids playing hacky sack with makeshift elastic band balls, families and friends just sitting and talking, people working on the farms, in the numerous little home shops... everything just seemed to be in harmony.

I would like thank the staff of Experience Himalayan Nepal and at Working Abroad for making this experience possible. I highly recommend both of you for any volunteer looking to help people and gain an amazing and unforgettable experience.